“Always remember, your focus determines your reality.“ – George Lucas
One of the three pillars of my weight is focus. Knowing what you want and why you want it is essential. My focus this week is on my family, my career and myself. I have objectives and tasks I want to accomplish in each of these areas. More to come on focus tomorrow. What are you focused on this week?
How do you use the weekend? For many people, the weekend represents a time away from the office. A time when you can do the things that are important to you. A time for a different routine. I view each day is an opportunity to move your life forward in small increments. I didn’t lose all of my weight at one time. It was a gradual process. It was the result of small actions each day towards a goal. This weekend, I will be working on my next blog post, playing golf with friends (unless it rains), spending time with my wife and planning the first week of class. What will you do this weekend?
My journey began in November 2020 during the height of the COVID pandemic where I live. The per capita cases, hospitalizations and deaths were some of the worst in the United States. The tension from the US Presidential election was in the air and the outcome not certain. I was still grieving my oldest brother’s death from COVID in September. I was trying to stay positive. I was trying to be thankful everyday. Then I took the picture and everything changed. I was fat, over fifty and fatigued. Something needed to change and it needed to happen how.
At my peak, I weighed 252 pounds (perhaps more). At the time of the picture, I weighed 246 pounds. I have never publicly admitted my actual weight before and am embarrassed to do so now. Today, I weigh 186 pounds. I lost most of the weight in the first four months. A few more pounds melted off over the next four but I have mostly steady. Recently, I committed to getting to 170 pounds which is the weight I believe is the best fit for my body. Not since 9th grade I have weighed 170 or below.
Throughout this journey, many have asked two questions:
1. How did you do it?
2. Do you feel any differently?
This blog is my attempt to share my journey and answer those questions. I seek to share what I have learned including, what worked, what didn’t work and other tidbits. What worked for me, may not work for you. Yet, I hope it helps or encourages others to seek a healthy lifestyle. Because I have struggled with my weight for most of my life, I have a lot of experience “trying” to lose weight.
How I feel today is substantially better than November 2020. I have more energy. I have less pain. My knees and back no longer hurt after a walk. My sleep improved. I no longer have acid reflux (prior to my weight loss, I was a Rolaids/Tums junkie). My heart rate is lower. My blood pressure is lower. My cholesterol is lower. Every major health marker is better. So, yes I feel differently. I had to purchase a whole new wardrobe. My clothing sizes are the same as high school and college. Mentally, I am more focused and happier.
Though I have struggled with my weight most of my life, this time is different. I feel it and live it. This time, I have changed my habits for good. How did I do it? I have broken the process into three areas. FOCUS, FACTS, FORGIVENESS.
Over the next few posts, I will describe in detail each of the above and how they work together.
If you want to join this journey, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter and follow my Facebook page dedicated to this group. I hope it helps you. If you have questions, let me know.
Sireadh Toileachas 